Santa Ynez Valley

The Picturesque Santa Ynez Valley is approximately a 40 minute drive from downtown Santa Barbara and is made up of the small towns of Solvang, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez, Buellton, Los Alamos and Ballard and is easily reached by taking Highway 154 (San Marcos Pass). In the past 20 years it has become a major producer of California Wines and a worldwide destination for wine Lovers. Producing nearly 100 different wine labels, many of the wineries have tasting rooms where visitors are invited to learn about the various wines and participate in tours that teach guests about the wine making process. Some wineries and vineyards are open for guided tours and over 30 are available for daily wine tasting. In 2004, the Santa Ynez Valley became the backdrop for the independent blockbuster move “Sideways”. Since then, movie and wine buffs alike have flocked to the valley to recreate the experiences of the fictional characters Miles and Jack.

At nearly 300 square miles and a population of only 20,000 the economy is still driven primarily by agriculture, equine and tourism in that order. Most of the homes in the Santa Ynez Valley are situated on 3 to 10 acre parcels in the rolling oak studded hills of the valley.